Hippocampal phase precession relative to the theta rhythm is clearest on
linear tracks [1]}, on which place fields typically arrange
in an unambiguous sequential order that may enable learning of temporally
compressed `theta sequences' [2]}. While the phenomenon is less
clear in open, 2-dimensional environments, phase precession has been observed
in particular traversals of the firing fields of place cells as well as grid
cells in entorhinal cortex [3]}, [4]}. However, our analysis
of phaser cells in the lateral septum [5]} revealed a more direct
phase code for 2-dimensional position that was consistent with a minimal model
of temporal phase-coding (Fig. REF C). To study how the phaser cell
code may contribute to sequence formation in open environments, the NeuroSwarms
controller adds an internal phase variable to each agent and couples the
modulation frequency of that phase to each agent's total input (see equation (REF )
below).
